Browse Items (16381 total)

Surveys the theme of Fortune's influence in treatments of the story of Troilus and Criseyde from Boccaccio to Dryden, including TC and the versions of Henryson and Shakespeare.

Argues that lack of historical evidence prevents us from learning much about the composition of BD. An examination of its topoi, however, reveals that the poem begins as a lament, turns into a consolation, and finally becomes an encomium designed to…

Fichte explores Rome in CT, both as an actual place and as a symbol. Focuses on Rome versus Syria in MLT and Christianity versus paganism in SNT, with comments on the Wife of Bath's and the Pardoner's connections with Rome, as well as orientalism in…

Surveys studies of Chaucer written in German from the middle of the nineteenth century until World War I.

Argues that ClT demonstrates that "gentilesse" is "inoperable in a capricious and volatile" society, evident in Griselda's treatment by Walter and his people. An ideal virtue, "gentilesse" is impossible, even for Griselda, who lacks pity.

Argues that BD is not a traditional consolation but rather a "poetic monument in honor of Blanche." The poem's narrator is "singularly unfitted for the role of comforter" and inconsistent with the poet's own self-consciousness as an artist.

Essays by various hands. For six essays that pertain to Chaucer, search for Chaucer's Frame Tales under Alternative Title.

Argues that Washington Irving was broadly influenced by Chaucer. Focuses on Irving's "Sketch Book" and its narrative personae in particular and, more generally, his attention to Chaucer, medieval literature, and poetic language in his process of…

At NPT 7.3445, the referent for "my lord" is Christ.

Reviews scholarship that discusses analogues of WBT and hypothesizes the nature and date of the archetype of these tales, focusing on the relative chronology of major motifs, shared and unshared. A hypothetical summary of the archetype--presented as…

Considers evidence that January's knife-image ("Ne hurte hymselven with his owene knyf"; MerT 5.1840) when commenting on sexual relations with his wife may have indicated to some members of a medieval audience that he was "a sexual pervert of the…

Considers January's social status and asks why MerT concerns a knight. Examines portrayal of January's household, finding him well-bred but lacking gentility; MerT is thus more firmly situated in the debate about "gentilesse." Also argues that part…

Certain ribald but spurious lines added to the pear-tree episode and printed by Caxton in 1478 helped to shape readers' attitudes toward Chaucer for three centuries, until Tyrwhitt removed them in 1775. The lines are probably the work of a scribe…

Chaucer's use of the word "craft" and its derivations in CT indicate a difference between individuals and the world they want to control.

Chaucer's interest in craft goes far beyond mere technical process. In CT, the word and its derivations emblematize human efforts to control the world through personal expertise and learned tradition. Fields challenges notions of Chaucer's pluralism,…

Cecilia is a humanist who represents the changing medieval world view. Her religion is personal rather than evangelical and is grounded in the practical. She does not perform miracles, nor do any supernatural powers vanquish her enemies or save her…

An illustrated encyclopedia of western cultures in the 14th-16th centuries that includes brief comments on "The Social Realism of Chaucer" in CT, with three accompanying passages in modern prose: the opening of the GP (1.1-41) the description of the…

Seeks objective analysis of the "oral-aural" aspects of word stress and metrical stress in Chaucer's "stress system," commenting on linguistic borrowings, affixing, grammatical function, phonetic juncture, and the difficulties of inferring Middle…

Identifies five structural units in the narrative of the KnT and reads them as a unified, seriatim manifestation of a world that is "tyrannized by mutability," resistant to individual and corporate efforts to find or impose order, and sensible only…

Argues that the imagery of court revels influenced Chaucer's works: "revels imagery ornaments" MerT, "structures the opening" of SqT, and "motivates choices" in FranT.

Suggests that Froissart's Dit dou bleu chevalier is "a poem so like" BD that it "seems certain one is modeled upon the other" (45).

An encyclopedic survey of medieval arts and humanities. The section on Literature, by Lorraine Stock, includes a summary analysis of CT (pp. 199-201) and a description of Chaucer's life and works (p. 205).

Assesses the nature and quality of Froissart's short poems: lays, chansons royales, pastourelles, ballades, virelays, and rondeaux, providing texts and commentary. The Introduction includes a survey of scholarship about Froissart's influence on…

Explores the figural significance of the veil, the earthly body of Christ, as projected in the garments of the "Pearl" maiden and of Griselda in ClT.

SNT reflects a Marian-driven ideal of virginal power, mayde and martyr," while SNP stresses Mary as mediatrix, "Mayde and Mooder." The absent female-gendered body of the Second Nun, undescribed in GP, bears witness to the bodies of female spiritual…